Richard Gere is one of the most well-respected actors in the business. Besides starring in huge film productions, the 72-year old has also led a very busy private life, having been married three times as well as having three children.
In 2018, Gere wed Alejandra Silva, his third wife.
So who is Alejandra? This is all you need to know about her – and the wonderful love story between the two lovebirds.
Richard Gere wasn’t quite the showman growing up. In fact, his interest in films and the theater came way later in life. However, those sparkling eyes and energetic smile were there from the beginning.
Richard Gere – early life
Born on August 31, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gere grew up on a farm near Syracuse, New York. He described his childhood as being “normal and all-American,” and early on, sports and music was all he did.
As a kid, Gere was an amazing gymnast. And still to this day, his family enjoys watching.
“When the Olympics were on, my son is 12 years old, and when we were watching, he goes, ‘Wow, Dad, look at that,’ and I’m thinking, ‘I did some of that’,” Richard Gere recalled.
“There’s a picture up in the hallway of me in high school with a side horse. I’d just finished a routine and I’m pumped and I stick the dismount. And I brought [my son] up there to look at that picture and he’d never noticed it!”
In high school, Richard Gere played four instruments, and he even composed several amateur musical shows. This was his first meeting with the stage. However, it took a while before he really decided it was going to be his thing.
Gere started studying philosophy at the University of Massachusetts after getting a gymnastics scholarship. However, after only one year in college, he decided to drop out.
Musical work in London
At this point, Richard Gere had fallen in love with acting. He got a job as a repertory player with the Provincetown Playhouse on Cape Cod. As soon as the season was done, he decided to head for New York, getting the lead role in the rock musical Soon.
However, it was a disaster. It closed after only one show, and Gere decided to try something else. This time, it meant moving “across the pond” to London, England.
He landed the role of Danny Zuko in the musical Grease in London. When the musical was set up in New York, he decided to leave and move back to the States. He found work on Broadway in the early 1970s, and that’s when he started to shine.
Gere won critical recognition for his portrayal of a convicted murderer in Killer’s Head – and he decided to do what many of his colleagues did. Instead on working only on the stage, it was time to go towards the screen.
From here, it was all about the film industry for Richard Gere. And boy, did it work out well!
In 1977, Gere got his breakthrough role in the thriller film Looking for Mr. Goodbar, starring alongside Diane Keaton. A year later he landed a starring role in Days of Heaven, and in 1980, Gere got the title role in American Gigolo.
Richard Gere – Pretty Woman
At this point, Richard Gere had become an actor on the rise. He became Hollywood’s heartthrob as he starred in Pretty Woman alongside Julia Roberts, as well as in An Officer and a Gentleman alongside Debra Winger.
Richard Gere’s performance in Pretty Woman sure was something special. The film is one of the greatest ever romcoms, but what many might not know is that Gere almost didn’t star in it at all.
In fact, it was Julia Roberts that convinced Gere to do the film.
“To be honest, I didn’t know if I was doing this movie yet. She’s across the desk, we’re getting to know each other, we’re flirty-flirty, nice-nice,” Gere said in 2015.
“And [Marshall] calls up and it’s kind of like, ‘How’s it going?’ And I’m going, ‘Yeah, yeah,’ and she takes a piece of paper. She turns it around, and she pushes it to me. It said, ‘Please say yes.’ It was so sweet. And I was like [miming talking on the phone], ‘I just said yes.'”
Richard Gere became very popular because of his many wonderful romantic comedy performances.
Richard Gere has been in some really classic and legendary films, but he’s yet to get an Academy Award nomination. But at the same time, it doesn’t feel like awards and recognition is his thing.
“I never engineered a career”
Some actors wants only the fame and to do be in the biggest possible projects. But Richard Gere isn’t one of them. Looking at his resume, there aren’t any blockbuster or franchise films. No superhero movies or sequels.
Why?
“My career has never been thought out,” he told the Independent. “I never engineered a career. I just have always done whatever I wanted.
“You’re restricted by what you’re offered but the incredible list of brilliant directors and actors and writers I’ve worked with, you know I’m kind of amazed myself that I’ve been able to ride this career this long with such good people.”
Three marriages
Today, the 72-year old is a father with several children. And through the years, he’s been married three times, dating some of the world’s most famous women, including Priscilla Presley and Cindy Crawford.
In 1991, he wed Cindy Crawford, however the couple split four years later. In 2000, he and wife Carey Lowell welcomed son Homer James Jigme Gere. He’s now 21 years old, and it is easy to say that Richard passed on his charm.
The couple divorced in 2013.
Today, Richard Gere is happily married. And this time, it’s with someone much younger than him. In fact, his beautiful wife Alejandra Silva is 33 years younger.
So who is Alejandra Silva? Well, it turns out that she and Richard met for the first time many years ago.
Alejandra Silva was born in February 1983. She grew up in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and through the years, she’s become both a publicist and activist.
Silva went on to study in Dorset, however, she went back to Spain to study advertising and marketing.
Who is Richard Gere’s wife Alejandra Silva?
She’s been working as a human rights activist, and in 2007, she promoted a non-profit initiative called Beautiful Life Fund. The socialite is very devoted, and she works hard to spread awareness on social issues.
Sometimes, she went far beyond what you would expect.
“I’ve slept on the street to understand the struggle of the homeless,” Silva said. “I’m not scared of rolling up my sleeves and diving into work. If I do something, I put 100% effort in. If I can’t I’d rather not do it.”
Also, she’s worked closely with Real Madrid Football Club Foundation to help integrate underprivileged children into sports within their local communities in Africa.
When she was just a child, she met her future husband Richard Gere for the first time. Alejandra and Gere’s families were friends. In 2014, the two met again in Positano, Italy, where Alejandra worked as a manager on the family-owned hotel.
One of their friends managed to re-introduce them, and it didn’t take long before they felt a “very strong connection.”
“Our karma was attracted the moment we saw each other,” Alejandra Silva said in 2015. “I’m not ignoring our age difference and what it means to be with a Hollywood star, but when there’s such a strong karmic energy, the problems disappear.”
“We couldn’t stop looking at each other all night, and since then we haven’t been apart,” she added.
Both were in the middle of their respective divorces at the time. And in fact, that helped them connect better, according to Alejandra.
“I’m in a true fairytale”
“Love stories with a complicated beginning, where you have to overcome difficulties together, can bring you closer,” she explained. “I’m sure I did [have some doubt] at some point. In the beginning, he was more convinced than me. But from very early on, we felt that we were destined to be together.”
Further, she said that Gere sent her flowers until she agreed to go on a date with him. He also regularly writes her songs.
“I feel like I’m in a true fairytale,” Alejandra Silva told Hello Magazine. “Without a doubt, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world… What could be more romantic than a man who writes you songs every day?”
Alejandra and Richard Gere’s love grew stronger. In 2018, the couple married.
Before they got married, Alejandra converted to Buddhism and moved to New York. The couple exchanged vows at Richard Gere’s ranch outside New York City.
“I’ll be eternally grateful to him. No doubt about it, thanks to Buddhism my life has changed,” she said.
33 year age gap between them
Although she is 33 years younger than Richard Gere, love doesn’t have an age number.
For both Alejandra and Richard, the love they have is all that matters.
“In this life it had to be like this. He has promised me at least 20 good years,” she said on their age difference. “I have to confess that he has much more energy than me; he’s much more active. I find it hard to keep up with him. He’s not human! Everyone who sees you together says Richard’s crazy about you.
“He knows I love him madly, she added. “I think I bring him stability. Above all, it helped I wasn’t an actress or a model. I never had any interest in that. What has united us the most is our desire to help other people who need it, our commitment to Buddhism and the Tibetan people. And he was able to see my unconditional commitment as a humanitarian, as a person, as a woman… It’s the sweetest, most romantic dream I’ve ever had. That’s why I’ve decided to stay in it!”
Richard Gere has one son – Homer James Jigme Gere – from his previous marriage with Carey Lowell. Alejandra also has one child from her marriage to businessman Govind Friedland, who was born in December of 2012.
Now, Richard Gere and Alejandra have welcomed two beautiful children to the world. It’s been a busy number of years for the couple since their wedding in 2018. In 2019, the couple announced the birth of their son Alexander. And just a year later, their second son was born.
Richard Gere on wife Alejandra
“I’m the happiest man in the universe,” Richard told Hello of their relationship.. “How could I not be? I’m married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who’s fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who’s a great cook – and who makes the best salads in the world!
“Alejandra meditates, she’s a vegetarian, a great mother, has the touch of an angel.,” he added. And she’s also Spanish: the land of kings and queens, of Cervantes and Buñuel. You can’t get any better than that.”
Even though there’s a 33-year age gap between the two, Richard and Alejandra seem to really enjoy life and each other. And by looking at her, you can easily understand why Richard fell for Alejandra. She is a true beauty!
Richard Gere is a true gentleman, and we’re so happy that he and Alejandra have found love in each other. And she – just as him – is a true beauty! We wish them all the best in the future.
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